From the Mouth of Babes Part 7

Written on June 29, 2010

This morning, my hubby and I had a little argument and Alvin rebuked me and said that the devil usually takes advantage of these situations to ruin our day. He reminded me that every moment we are together is important because it may be the last moment that we may be together... and these reminders are enough for me to pause, think and correct my actions. I am reminded of Ephesians 5:15-16 which says "Be careful how you walk not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil..."Relating this to our marriage, we should "redeem our time", make the most out of it and not ever waste it on things that are not at all important - yes, like arguments. The enemy undoubtedly works overtime to steal our time and our joy.

On his way to the office, Alvin texted and He thanked me for my reminders and then said "...take care of our kids, too. Since I will be gone for a while but after a while you will see me again..." This made me laugh because he is certainly going to the office and would be back tonight but I also felt a "tug" at my heartstrings because those are Jesus' words in John 16:16, before He died. It was to me a subtle reminder of the brevity of life. I remember a preaching that said the only thing that is equally given to everyone is TIME. We only have 24 hours a day, and it is our choice whether to spend this time arguing or creating "magic moments".

Thank you Jesus for teaching us everyday. Thank you for your patience and love for us and for your subtle voice that whisper in our hearts. Thank you that we can hear you in our marriage and that we feel your love binding us. Thank you for giving me a wonderful, wonderful husband who overlooks my weaknesses and brings out my strengths. May you continue to remove the things in us that fail to glorify Your name. Amen.

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More quotable quotes from my kids :-)

April 30, 2010
Riel: Mommy, Why are babies born without clothes?

May 2010
Aethan (talking to his kuya): kuya, when you are singing, you have to close your eyes. It means you are touched!

June 9, 2010
Riel: (while browsing his Zoology Book) - Mommy! This is exciting! We're going to make a bird feeder!We're going to put peanut butter then roll it....
Aethan: That is not exciting for me! I want to eat the peanut butter!

June 14, 2010
Riel: Mommy, did God create flies?
(As we were discussing this question, Riel said : Mommy, maybe we should go back to Genesis and see what the Bible says.

June 16, 2010
(While teaching how to introduce themselves in Filipino)
Riel:Ang pangalan ko ay Riel. Ako ay anim na TALONG gulang.
Aethan: Ang pangalan ko ay Aethan. Ako ay limang taong GULAY.

June 29, 2010
(I was listening to my kids - trying to keep myself from laughing-- while I was typing this exchange)
Aethan: When you die kuya, what will happen?
Riel:Then I will go to heaven but when my mission is not done yet, then God will make me alive again.
Aethan: How can that be? We only have one life.
Riel: Yes, look at Lazarus! He died and he was alive!
Aethan: What if someone shoots you with an arrow --- on your chest
riel: Yes, I can still be alive with Jesus help!
Aethan: How? You're not Obi-wan Kenobi!

June 29, 2010
Aethan: Mommy, kuya covered his ears while I was telling him something
Riel: Aethan, Why did you immediately tell mommy? We didn't solve the problem yet.

For Better or For Worse

    
 Written on February 16, 2008

     "When I found him whom my soul loves, I held on to him and would not let him go." Songs of Solomon 3:4.  That is how I felt when Alvin came into my life ... that is still exactly what I feel now. 

    February 16, 4:30pm, at this exact time 6 years ago, in 2002, I married my God's best.  Our marriage is not perfect but our 6 years together have been wonderful,wonderful years.

    Alvin and I both started working in Bayantel in 1996.  I know his friends, He knows my friends but our paths never crossed until February 3, 1998. I praise God for if we have met earlier then things may have been different.  At the time we met, we were both fully recovered from our 'heartbreaks'.... We were both healed. It was God's best time. And in just a few months of friendship, I felt I have known him all my life. 
   
    When I met Abinntot, as I fondly call him, I already felt he would play an important role in my life though I never thought at first that we would be more than friends. I enjoyed his company so much.  I never met a man who made me laugh a lot. We can spend hours talking on the phone and not run out of things to say. (Up to now, we can talk for hours and hours until we doze off to sleep.)  He was so humble, down-to-earth and principled but above all the qualities that stood out, It was his love for the Lord that drew me to him. I knew then, that this is the man I want to marry. 

    Alvin was already a Christian then but he was not yet active in the ministry and he did not attend church regularly.  I was a Catholic and I never had a 'personal' relationship with the Lord.  The more I knew Alvin, the more I realized that what I lacked in my life cannot be filled by anyone or anything but by the Lord alone... not because I can see Alvin's weaknesses but because I can see the strength the Lord brings him and I can see that he walked his talk.

    Sharing God to me was the best gift Alvin has given me because it was a gift not for my physical being but for my soul.  We started to regularly attend church.  We were baptized together.  We joined the ministry together. We made friends together.  We grew in our walk together. We matured together. We work better together... I can say we bring out the best from each other. 

    Every year, as we celebrate this special day, we always looked back to the past with fondness.  Life was not always smooth sailing for us.  We had our share of ups and downs.  We had fights and disagreements about a lot of things from ingredients of recipes (well, alvin always wanted potatoes to be included in most viands / dish including tinola ?!) to politics but we love each other and we are both committed to our relationship.

    So did anything change when we were married?  I would say everything changed for the better.  Yes, we still argue and things sometimes seem frustrating but we are now more forgiving. We now know when to speak and when to be silent.  We are more patient, bearing each other's faults.  We are learning to apply the 3Ks that Alvin learned from Toastmasters -  Kiss, Kick, Kiss. We have learned our love and apology language. Having weathered times of conflicts, sickness and financial pressures,  we are now emotionally and spiritually stronger.

    I praise God for bringing us together.  For 6 years and for the rest of my life, I have the privilege to know a great man and I am comforted with the thought that I will be spending the rest of my days with him... my Abintot...  for better or for worse.

    2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

Appreciating Your Mate

Written on February 26, 2008

I found a letter I wrote for Alvin back in 2004 when I was still pregnant with Aethan. I wrote it as part of our ‘couples devotional’ (Home builders couples series - Building Your Mates Self Esteem by Dennis and Barbara Rainey) but never had the chance to transfer it on paper and give it to him.  Yesterday, during our ‘bonding time’, I read it to him and we both laughed about it, going back in time again, cherishing all the experiences we have had.

It is very important for couples to appreciate each other not just by actions but most especially by words.  This is specially true for couples who have been married for a while because they have the tendency "to become callous or insensitive to the effects that words have" on their mate.   "The words you speak to your mate have the potential to strengthen or poison your mate’s self esteem(Rainey)."  This is very important to me because ‘words of apprciation’ fill my husband’s love tank.

written in early 2004
(all of it still hold true except the one that pertains with my pregnancy - i.e. tummy support)

For my Abintot:
THANK YOU

Thank you for the text messages
although forwarded, I know you meant it for me.

Thank you for reminding me to wear my tummy support.
I know you want to be sure Aethan and me are safe.

Thank you for bringing an extra pen in your bag
because you know I’ll forget to bring mine.

Thank you for fixing the bed every morning
because you know I’m lousy at folding the sheets.

Thank you for not watching the  late news anymore
because you want to spend as much time with me and Riel.

Thank you for assisting me in preparing Riel’s milk every morning
even if you still want to sleep.

Thank you for the incoherent responses
when I speak to you during your sleep.
It shows how much you want us to talk.

Thank you for eating and appreciating
even the simplest meal I prepare.
It shows how much you value me.

Thank you for sharing sorry even if it wasn’t your fault.
It shows how much you want this relationship to work.

Thank you for the unfinished cards you brought for me.
It shows how much you try to write me a letter.

Thank you for pricking the blisters on my feet,
removing my white hair and even the hair on my armpit. 
It shows how much you accept all of me.

Thank you for the farts that you do not fear to share.
It shows how comfortable we are with each other.

Thank you for giving up a dream of financial bounty
in a foreign land in exchange for our family’s togetherness.
It shows the sacrifice you can do for us.

Thank you for saying I’m beautiful when I’m sleeping
even with my eyes and mouth open.
It shows how much you adore me.

Thank you for Riel, my little Alvin.
He is a constant reminder 

of your love and God’s faithfulness.

There is so much to be thankful for
and I can add a hundred more to the list.

I just want you to know that I appreciate
ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.

I am very much thankful …
for I already have you…
My Abintot, my God’s best.